Kasama District

LOCATION

Kasama District is located 852 km from Lusaka the capital city of Zambia with an area of 10,788 km sq (1,078,800 ha). The District lies on longitude 30 degrees and 32 degrees east and latitude degrees 9 and 11 degrees south and at an average altitude of 1300m.

The district shares boundaries with Mbala district in the north, Mungwi district in the north-east, Chinsali district in the south-east, Chilubi district in the extreme south-west, Kanchibiya district in the south, Luwingu district in the south-west and Mporokoso district in the north-west. The District is 200km from the Port of Mpulungu on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest fresh water lake in the world which is shared by several great lakes region countries which are Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

It is also linked to the Port of Dar-es-salaam on the shores of the Indian Ocean by both rail and road and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the commercial hub of Zambia, the Copperbelt province through Luapula province via Luwingu-Mansa road. The district is also linked to the capital city of Zambia by air, rail and road. In addition, Kasama airport is been expanded to start handling big commercial aircrafts and 40% of the works has already been done.

Climate

The district has moderate temperature ranging from 15 and 35 degrees centigrade. It is in the high rainfall zone of Zambia, with an average annual rainfall of 1200 mm. The rainy season is between November and April. The district has five big rivers Chambeshi, Lukulu, Lukupa, Lubansenshi and Luombe Rivers which host the Chishimba falls and the hydro-power station. The District has several perennial streams that can be harnessed for irrigation purposes.

District Demography

According to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, Kasama district has a population of 231,824 comprising of 114,208 males and 117,616 females. The annual growth rate has been estimated at 3.1 per cent.

Agriculture

The major economic activity in Kasama District is mostly agriculture. The district has a farmer population of 91,525 farmers with major production being in agro crops such as maize, cassava, soya beans and vegetables among other crops, as well as livestock.

Kasama has three major private agriculture companies namely Northern Coffee Corporation Limited (NCCL) operating Kateshi Estates with approximately 2, 466 hectares of land and NCCL is the subsidiary of Olam International Limited; Kalungwishi Estates Limited and Miracle fisheries which is operated by Kalungwishi Estates. Olam specialises in the production of coffee, however, they have gone into banana production as well. The company employs in excess of 600 permanent employees and 2500 employees at pick periods.

Kalungwishi Estates Limited the producers of Kasama sugar brand is located about 30 kilometres north from Kasama Central Business District (CBD). The company produces between 2500 to 2600 metric tonnes of sugar every year and it has been operational since 1987. Miracle Fisheries Company is located about 40km from the CBD of Kasama town. It has 18 ponds at its Chilubula farm and it produces about 1, 200 metric tonnes of fish annually.

Manufacturing

Kasama District hosts Chishimba Hydro Power Station; NCCL which operates a wet and dry mill coffee processing facility at its Kateshi plantation and Kalungwishi estates operates a Sugar Refining Mill with the production capacity of 2600 metric tonnes of Kasama sugar brand a year. In addition, Kasama District hosts Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company and several milling companies among them Kasama Milling, PJT Milling and Kasama Bakery Milling Companies with the production capacity for both local and international markets. In addition to the above various manufacturing companies, opaque alcohol brewing plants employs a large number of Kasama people and further provides a lot of business opportunities in the district and the region.

Tourism and Retail

Kasama has potential for tourism and hosts the famous Chishimba Falls, Chilambwe Falls and Mwela Rock Paintings. The district also has a rich history and tradition with the famous Ukusefya Pa’ngwena Traditional ceremony that is celebrated every year in August by the Bemba speaking people led by the Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of Northern and Muchinga Provinces. In retail market, the district has two major super markets namely Shoprite Checkers and Basari super markets and one more is earmarked to be opened soon. There are also a growing number of citizens in informal employment taking advantage of goods manufactured locally and imported from neighbouring countries.

Education and Health

The district has education facilities some of which are government owned while others are privately owned institutions. There are 293 both primary and secondary schools in the district. Tertiary institutions offer certificate and diploma qualifications in Teacher Education, Nursing and other disciplines. The University of Zambia runs non-residential courses by distance learning. And there are two skills training institutions in the district that specialises on technical programmes such as bricklaying and plastering, plumbing and sheet metal, carpentry and joinery and automotive mechanics. Other courses that are on offer are tailoring and designing, catering, music and cultural tenets of Zambia. The courses are conducted in conjunction with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) of the Republic of Zambia.

Government through Ministry of Health, Kasama District Health Office is operating 41 health facilities together with the 8 newly opened prefabricated health posts. Kasama District Health has two Hospitals namely Kasama General Hospital and St. Fidelis Mission Hospital which is providing 1st level referral to 10 health centres on the western side of the district. Additionally there is one private hospital namely Hilltop Hospital.

In the social sector, Kasama has 3 main recreational facilities which are Kasama Stadium, Kasama Golf Club and one play park.

Service Industry Sector

Kasama hosts several parastatal and private companies in the following sectors: